Admitted burglar escapes treatment, sought by police

BRATTLEBORO -- An admitted burglar who earlier this month was given a "last chance" for drug treatment is on the run and is wanted on new charges, authorities said Thursday.

Zachariah McAllister failed to make a court appearance this week, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest, said Steven Brown, Windham County deputy state’s attorney.

"He’s currently a suspect in a new crime. The police are actively looking for him," Brown said. "If anyone in the public sees him, they should contact law enforcement immediately."

Brown would not say what new crime McAllister is accused of. But he also said he expects additional charges to be filed in relation to McAllister’s premature departure from the RISE addiction-treatment program.

On Jan. 9, McAllister, 22, admitted to burglarizing WW Building Supply in Newfane in December 2011 and giving false information to police in Brattleboro. He also pleaded guilty to selling hallucinogenic mushrooms in Westminster and possessing cocaine in Bellows Falls in August 2011.

He faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for those counts. But McAllister’s sentencing was delayed for at least six months; the plea agreement had been carefully crafted to allow him time to get help through the RISE program.

At the time, Brown said McAllister’s sentence was "going to depend on how the defendant responds to treatment between now and his next court date."

And Judge David Suntag told McAllister that "the efforts that have been made for you ... are in many ways extraordinary."

McAllister still had faced a domestic-assault charge from a November incident. That’s why he was due in court this week for a pre-trial conference.

But his whereabouts now are not clear.

"Mr. McAllister is no longer engaged in the programming that was contemplated in the plea agreement," Brown said.

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